Great northern beans are purified water washed, soaked overnight, steam blanched and expertly cooked with organic barley, Japanese maitake mushrooms, and select organic vegetables. They are canned in a savory sauce of organic tomato puree seasoned with a bit of Eden Sea Salt and an Eden selected blend of organic chili spices. Whole grain barley and maitake mushrooms lend a full texture that chili lovers desire. Our certified organic and pareve cannery, Meridian Foods in east central Indiana, has a long standing reputation for producing cooked canned beans of the finest fill and finish.

Eden Organic Chilies are packed in steel cans coated with a baked on oleoresinous c-enamel that does not contain the endocrine disrupter chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA). Oleoresin is a natural mixture of an oil and a resin extracted from various plants, such as pine or balsam fir. These cans cost 14% more than the industry standard cans that do contain BPA. The can maker, Ball Corporation, tells us that Eden is the only U.S. food maker to date to use these BPA free cans and we have been since April 1999.

Eden Organic Chilies are unique. Most brands contain meat or textured vegetable protein (TVP) that is chemically extracted from genetically engineer soybeans. Eden Organic Great Northern Bean & Barley Chili combines beans and whole grain. Beans are an important source of two essential amino acids not found in most grain, lysine and threonine. Whole grains complement beans delivering complete protein. Enjoying a variety of whole grain and beans is a solid step toward healthy living.

The FDA says, "Soluble fiber from foods such as whole grain barley as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease." A serving of Eden Organic Great Northern Bean & Barley Chili provides 2 grams of soluble fiber per serving. Also, "Diets low in saturated fats and cholesterol and rich in fruits, vegetables, and grain products that contain some types of dietary fiber, particularly soluble fiber, may reduce the risk of heart disease, a disease associated with many factors." Plus, "Low fat diets rich in fiber-containing grain products, fruits, and vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer, a disease associated with many factors." Eden Organic Great Northern Bean & Barley Chili offers whole grain and beans, is low fat, saturated fat and cholesterol free; rich in fiber, magnesium, and zinc; and a good source of potassium, riboflavin B2, niacin B3, B6, folate B9, and protein. It contains 50 percent less sodium than other brands, plus it's Eden sea salt.

"Beans are probably the best human plant food there is," says Clifford Beninger, Ph.D., an environmental biologist and former researcher for the USDA's Bean Research Unit, citing their high protein, high fiber, low fat, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Studies show beans contain a wealth of antioxidants similar to those found in fruits and berries. "Beans are really loaded with antioxidant compounds. We didn't know how potent they were until now," Beninger further says. These findings add antioxidant activity to a growing list of healthy compounds found in beans and legumes. The study was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Scientists at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center at Tufts University say, "Whole grains help regulate blood sugar by slowing down the conversion of complex carbohydrates into sugar. In fact, low-glycemic index foods such as whole grains reduce hunger and can help to control weight." Scientists at the Agriculture Research Service completed a study of more than 2,000 people concluding, "at least three or more servings of whole grain foods everyday could reduce the chances of developing metabolic syndrome - a condition marked by a combination of abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, poor blood sugar control, low HDL 'good' cholesterol and high blood fats."